Podcasting guide

main issues. For us, the first step is to normalize the track(s). Normalization looks at the entire track, finds the peak areas, and then increases the volume so that the peaks are at the maximum level. This doesn’t really change the audio, it basically just makes it loud enough to fill the range you have. You can normalize (and do the other adjustments listed here) in GarageBand or Soundtrack.

Using an application such as Sountrack Pro, you can adjust the equalization settings of audio podcast recordings to make voices clearer and easier to listen to.The next step is equalization. Hopefully you recorded some good audio, but many times it could be a little better—you need to focus on listenability. Women sometimes sound better recorded with a little more bass, while men often need a little less bass and a little more volume around 7k (7,000Hz) to make their words sharper.

The final part is compression—reducing the variance between the highs and lows. Compressing brings everyone together in volume (you can often have some variance) and makes the sound more intelligible. Generally, you want to squeeze the audio together and increase the volume proportionately to make up for the adjustment. Two-to-one up to four-to-one are pretty good ratios.

From there, you should export the file to AIFF to create a raw, full-resolution version for archiving. Then use iTunes to convert the AIFF file to MP3 or AAC. The benefit of AAC is that it allows you to add chapters and images for listeners using software such as Lemonz Dream’s $30 Podcast Maker 1.3 (version 1.1, ). You can add chapters in GarageBand or Soundtrack, but Podcast Maker is much faster and more predictable.

Now, all you have to do is figure out how and where to distribute your masterpiece.

[Alex Lindsay is the founder of the Pixel Corps, which produces more than 10 podcasts for itself and others.]